Food allergies are quite irritating and cause immense discomfort, even though the symptoms are just minor. But on a serious note, some forms of allergies can cause deadly repercussions if medications or precautions aren’t taken on time.
A few people experience it temporarily, while for some, these allergies become part of their lives, which deprives them of eating specific food items for an indefinite time in life. So, what do you think are food allergies in medical terms?
Food allergies occur when your body's immune system gives out an excessive response to some foreign compound present in the food. When you tend to experience food allergies, some common symptoms will start with a runny nose, watery eyes or mild rashes. But in serious conditions, even some life-threatening signs can be triggered, such as anaphylaxis.
So, to keep you more educated about food allergies and the allergens that trigger them, this article brings to you the seven most common conditions. Read along till the end to find out!
What are the Two Categories of Food Allergies?
Most of the food allergies are summed up to two different categories, which includes:
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IgE (Immunoglobulin) Mediated Allergy
In this category of food allergy, the immune system of your body will make the IgE antibodies, which will react to certain types of food. These antibodies are considered proteins that your immune system tends to use for recognizing and fighting off the infection. An IgE-specific allergic reaction will occur within a couple of hours after you consume the allergen and might trigger severe symptoms.
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Non-IgE Mediated
A non-IgE food allergy is a condition where your body doesn’t make the IgE antibodies, but all of the other parts of your immune system will be engaged in mouthing responses against a specific threat to the body. Such an allergy will always trigger digestive or skin symptoms, including diarrhoea or vomiting, which might occur around 3 days after consuming the allergen.
What are the Different Types of Food Allergies?
As a normal human being, it is important for everyone to be cautious about their health, and to do that, they need proper awareness of certain conditions that their body might encounter. Food allergies are among those conditions that can occur to almost anyone! So, let’s unveil the seven most common food allergies that have noticeably been reported commonly among people:
1. Cow’s Milk Allergy
Allergy to the cow’s milk is mostly seen in young children and babies, but they don’t develop a permanence over it. Around 90% of the children tend to overgrow this allergy by the time they are 3 years or older. Thus, you can conclude that this food allergy isn’t common in adults at all.
This allergy isn’t specific to the consumption of cow’s milk directly but also to the products made out of it. For instance, babies who are allergic to cow’s milk should not consume cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream or cream either. So, when you see your child responding abnormally to these food items, do not worry about the hassle or cost of an allergy test, and take your kid to the doctor right away.
2. Egg Allergy
It is the second most common food allergy that is seen in children. Most of the kids who experience this at an early age will outgrow the condition by the time they are 16 years old. Some of the symptoms that it triggers include skin reactions, digestive problems, respiratory issues and even anaphylaxis in rare scenarios.
There is a possibility that a child is allergic to the egg whites and not its yolks, or vice versa. This is because the proteins present in the egg yolks and whites might be slightly different. But, in most common cases, the proteins present in the egg whites trigger an allergic reaction in children. The only way to prevent such an allergy is to avoid an egg-based diet.
3. Tree Nut Allergy
The nuts or seeds that are collected from trees might cause a form of allergy. Up to 3% of the global population has an allergy to tree nuts, which makes it one of the most serious types of all. Some of the tree nuts that commonly trigger these allergies are almonds, brazil nuts, pistachios, walnuts, etc.
People who are allergic to tree nuts will also show symptoms when they consume foods made out of them. Therefore, it is advised that you should stay away from consuming any type of tree nuts, even though you are allergic to just one of them. It is because your allergic reaction to one type of tree nut might influence the same reaction for the other nuts as well.
4. Peanut Allergy
Just like tree nut allergies, some adults also develop an allergic reaction to peanuts, which is very common and might lead to life-threatening symptoms. It is said people with peanut allergies are mostly allergic to the consumption of tree nuts as well. There is no specific medical reason for why people develop such a condition, but people with a family history of this allergy might be at high risk.
Even children can experience peanut allergy, but it is observed that they overcome it by the time they enter their teenage years. For diagnosing peanut allergy, doctors will put up food challenges, run blood tests, do skin-prick testing and examine the health history. The only effective treatment remedy is to avoid peanuts or any other product that has them as ingredients.
5. Shellfish Allergy
An allergic reaction upon consuming shellfish is triggered when your body attacks the proteins that come from it. Lobster, shrimp, squid, crayfish, scallops and prawns are part of the shellfish family, and most people are allergic to one or more of these seafood options. One of the most common triggers of shellfish allergy is tropomyosin protein.
Shellfish allergy symptoms often come up very quickly and are also similar to most of the other IgE allergies. But at times, it might be difficult to distinguish the seafood allergy from the contaminant reactions that the body gives against the presence of certain parasites or viruses in the fish. A doctor’s diagnosis is required to confirm the allergic reaction.
6. Wheat Allergy
It is again a common allergic reaction that’s observed in infants and mostly disappears within their first few years. Wheat has hundreds of proteins, and your immune response to any one of them might trigger an allergy. The symptoms of it are mostly in the form of swelling, rashes, hives or vomiting. In severe cases, wheat allergy can result in anaphylaxis as well.
Skin-prick food allergy testing is done to diagnose wheat allergy in children and even in adults. One must avoid all wheat-containing products and stop applying cosmetic or beauty essentials that consist of wheat in order to prevent any adverse reactions.
7. Soy Allergy
Soybean allergy might be less common than peanut allergy, but it is still seen in a considerable amount of people. The symptoms are quite the same as those of peanut allergies, which range from simple rashes to life-threatening reactions. Such an allergy is mostly common in children and infants but is not limited to them, as people of all ages might experience it.
Doctors recommend soy allergic patients replace this ingredient with lupin, which is a popular culinary ingredient and a perfect alternative to both soy and wheat. But, lupin is also closely related to peanuts, which means people with peanut allergy cannot consider consuming it.
Also Read: Find Out Whether You Have A Dust Allergy or Not
Conclusion
This is a clear understanding of some of the most common food allergies that people come across at some point in life. There are treatments and medications to manage or assess the allergic dangers in specific food items. FDA has also put up inspections to see that the common food allergens are labelled correctly over the specific retail products.
If you have ever felt like being allergic to some food items you consume but have neglected in the past, you must get your food intolerance test or allergy test done right away. Agilus is your one-stop hub, as we have the right tools and expertise to help carry out all forms of diagnostic tests for determining your allergic response to specific food items.
Book your appointment with us today!
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
